The News

Book launch coincides with 20th Anniversary of Gilchrist drawing "Nancy

Nashville, Tenn., (September 9, 2015) – Guy Gilchrist, the international award-winning cartoonist of “Nancy,” has teamed up with Keep Tennessee Beautiful and written and illustrated the children’s book, “Nancy and Sluggo Love Tennessee: A Story about Keeping Tennessee Beautiful." The book will be launched on September 15, 2015 at the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Keep Tennessee Beautiful Biennial Conference, “Live, Learn, Lead.”

Later that day, there will be a joint press conference with Gilchrist, Kevin Triplett, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Missy Marshall, the Executive Director of Keep Tennessee Beautiful at the Tennessee State Museum in downtown Nashville at 4:00 pm.

The launch of "Nancy and Sluggo Love Tennessee" coincides with the 20th anniversary of Gilchrist drawing the iconic, "Nancy" comic strip. "Nancy and Sluggo Love Tennessee" is the result of an 11-month collaborative effort between Keep Tennessee Beautiful and Gilchrist. The book is unique as this is a rare instance when Sluggo shares equal billing with Nancy herself.

“I am proud to call Tennessee home,” said Guy Gilchrist. “This state is one of the most beautiful in the nation. The way to keep and preserve Tennessee’s natural beauty is by teaching our children the importance of both recycling and not littering. 'Nancy and Sluggo Love Tennessee' does this while also educating children about the wonderful attractions and places that make Tennessee special.”

“The Tennessee-themed book highlights some of our state’s most popular tourist attractions from Mountain City to Memphis, while illustrating the importance of preserving our state’s natural resources,” said Kevin Triplett, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

“The book is sure to inspire youth across Tennessee to do their part to keep Tennessee beautiful. It is my hope that the story will turn the name of the Keep Tennessee Beautiful organization into a way of life for all who live, work and visit in Tennessee,” said Missy Marshall, Executive Director of Keep Tennessee Beautiful.